The sisters hugged before Krissy was taken away again.
Kelsey watched her go. A plain-clothes officer walked up. I’d seen him before but didn’t know his name.
“I’m John Bellingsly, your detail for the next twenty-four hours.” John looked to be in his early thirties with blondish-brown hair, intelligent hazel eyes, and a muscular build. He had to be just under six feet tall.
I introduced Kelsey, and I swear, she drew charm on like most women did lipstick. “Hi.”
John grinned. “Hello.”
Oh, for goodness sakes. Just how many men did Kelsey want to juggle? I started down the hallway and stairs, not caring if they followed.
John beat me to the door and opened it while Teddy came out of the sitting area. The men sized each other up. We walked outside, and Kurt Stockwood was sitting on a park bench, his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. Was he following me or just enjoying the comfortable weather?
Kelsey gave him a little wave.
I had to give it to her. I’d be having a panic attack by now. Then James Saber came around the corner, walking straight at us. Of course. Aiden’s right-hand man in both the ATF and the Lorde’s organization. Why wouldn’t the badass hottie be right here and right now? His dark gaze encompassed everyone at once.
“Hi,” I said before Kelsey could. “What’s going on?” I was the only person, besides Kurt, who knew that Saber was ATF.
He caught sight of Kurt on the bench. “Just meeting a buddy.”
“Oh. All right.” I couldn’t say anything else without giving up too much information, so I started to move again.
“Hi.” Saber looked at Kelsey. “Are we still on for Friday?”
Teddy and John both tensed.
Kelsey nodded.
I just kept walking.
Chapter 31
After a long day at work, I slipped my shoes back on. We’d lost several corporate clients after Jolene’s newest article had gone to print that morning. Apparently dead bodies in the actual office was too much for people. I really wished she would move back to Boston. She’d dated Aiden in high school, and she’d been a jerk even then. Apparently the years hadn’t made her any nicer.
She made it really difficult to stick to the rules of the sisterhood.
I shut down my office and headed out after sending the documents to Krissy and the court that would hopefully get Kelsey off the hook. I felt good about the case for the first time. Krissy had seemed genuine, and this was one more situation I could put to bed.
John met me at the door and walked me out, his presence mellower than Bud’s. We drove home companionably, and after he searched my cottage, he had me lock the doors while he scouted the property. I liked him. Maybe he and Kelsey would go out. Although I liked both Saber and Teddy as well. Kurt, I wasn’t sure about. Plus, he was heading back to LA.
My phone rang and happiness swept me as I saw it was Aiden. “Hi.”
“Where are you?” he asked, urgency in his tone.
“Home. Why?”
“Do you have a detail on you?” he asked.
I looked around. “I have one here. Why? What’s going on?”
“The ME’s office and morgue in town just blew up.” It sounded like Aiden was on the move. His voice got muffled for a second. “Both Sasha and Bev’s bodies were there.”
I gasped. “Was anybody hurt?’
“I don’t know yet. It’s after hours, so hopefully not.” The sound of an engine revving came over the line. “I’m hitting the Lordes apartments for my go bag and weapons. You pack a bag for a week. Don’t argue with me.” He hung up.
I stared at the phone. What did this all mean? If Barensky had just blown up the two bodies found around me, then he knew of my current connection to Aiden and that Aiden was ATF? Was that what it meant? I didn’t know. All of it was so crazy. Quickly, I changed into shorts and a tank top before grabbing my duffle bag.
